Did you know that Lionel Messi, as a child at her home in Rosario (Argentina), liked to play with dinosaurs miniatures? Who challenged the brothers in games like Teg (a kind of war) and life game? Who was a fan of Captain America and Spider-Man?
I did not know, and I was surprised when, at the beginning of the show in Sao Paulo, I came across the reproduction of the little Messi’s room (born in 1987), including the bed where I slept, Argentine selection posters on the wall, dresser with children’s clothes, the shelf with the heroes, the board games, the gude blocks, the LEGO style.
And child boot, ball (after all, his great passion was football), more trophies and medals, won at the base of Newell’s Old Boys, where he played from 1995 to 2000.
The visit to the room is an appetizer, closed with the phone ringing. You can answer, and the voice on the other side, a man speaking Spanish, invite the future star: “Do you want to play at Barcelona?”
“The Messi Experience – Dream Come True” (The Messi Experience – A Dream Vowel), an immersive exhibition, tells the story of the one who would become the best (so far) the 21st century player, from the beginning to the biggest dream, the conquest of the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar, with his country.
He knew a little time ago that the show, which has already passed through some countries and will still go through others, had arrived in the state capital, and there was the opportunity to meet her this week, coincidentally at a time when the striker again occupies the spotlight.
Eight times elected best footballer in the world, Messi, 38, captains Inter Miami at the Club World Cup, ongoing in the United States.
With his help, who scored the goal of Victory against Porto in the second game of the group stage and commanded the actions of the American team in the other two (draws with Al Ahly and Palmeiras), the Florida team advanced to the round of 16. It will face this Sunday (29) PSG, current European champion.
I went to the morning exhibition, in order to spend about an hour in it. I stayed two and a half hours.
Is it so long to see everything? No. But, as it was empty (really empty: all the way through the large space installed at Shopping Eldorado, in the west of São Paulo, I came across only six visitors, four adults and two children), I took advantage and took me in each room, taking pictures and watching the videos several times.
After the childhood room, the following (in all are nine, including the introductory, which is the first of all) report the enchantment of the boy Messi for football (Maradona was still shining at the time, and had Batistuta, Caniggia, Ruggeri, Simeone), followed by all his experience in Barcelona, where she was resoundingly successful, concomitantly to her participation in the Argentine team, which top year after year.
Upon arrival in Catalonia, in 2000, there are Leo’s impressions, as he is called by family and friends. The projection of the video occurs “inside Camp Nou”, the mythical stadium of Barça. The images are displayed on the lawn. Something few people know and what Messi tells? That in his second game for the children’s team B he gets hurt, which compromises his first season in Spain.
Halfway through the “experience” is the fifth room, which will have fun to be worth the kids – and the elders as well. In it, in three playful activities (explained by instructors), the visitor will test his ball control (“Tiki Taka”), his knowledge about Messi (“trivia”) and his aim in goal kicks (“precision”). Each game takes about five minutes, and there is score – first and third can be played by up to four people, in the sum of strength.
I did not go from 900 points to any (I missed speed, wisdom and category, and played alone) – the best scores showed very high numbering, in the house of the thousands.
Today’s Messi talks to you in the previous last room (which shows about two to three dozen shirts he used year by year, in clubs and selection), in a projection in which a phrase is emblematic: “The difficult times are there to teach us.”
Shirt 10, which at the beginning at Barça dressed 30, received very tough media criticism, for not being able to lead Argentina to the top, whether in Americas, whether in World Cups. So much so that, shaken, he gave up the selection in the middle of the past decade, returning to her after receiving requests and more requests from the Argentine people.
A room is dedicated to this, and I quote here a small defect in the show. Those who sit, whether on the floor or on the benches, to see the movie, risk going out with a painful neck. You have to look up, not forward, for a few minutes to watch. Bearable but uncomfortable.
The videos of the penultimate room, in 360 degrees, show the overcoming of Messi, which by the insistence could reach his main goal: to beat the World Cup by Argentina. The narration is the same, however the images, in four distinct screens, are different. If you have time and want to detail, see four times. At the center of the environment, a giant replica of the FIFA Cup, delivered to those who win the World Cup, and erected by Messi three years ago.
Messi himself participated in the conception of the project “Experience”, which, according to Adriana Marchetti, vice president of new businesses in dance marketing, the producing company of the exhibition in Brazil, aims to “mainly show the personal side of Messi, outside the fields, as well as providing a wonderful family program”.
Whether the goal is met or not, it is up to each visitor to conclude. For me, the show highlights considerably less personal life than the star’s professional life.
Is it an excellent family program? AND. If you like football and/or Messi, go, take your children. Enjoy their school holidays. The prices? Full from $ 100, half from $ 50.
In the final room, which also has the thematic shop (offering only T -shirts, at R $ 128, and sweatshirts, at R $ 318), the character of the show offers him unique opportunity. In a panel, Messi invites a selfie with him. There is a QR code to access it.
I took mine, will be eternalized. I was, even if virtually, alongside a Football God.
